PennDot, NS sign pact to expand Pennsylvanian Amtrak access

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced it has finalized an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway to expand passenger-rail service on the Pennsylvanian Amtrak line in western Pennsylvania.

"This agreement lays the groundwork for expanded passenger-rail service in western Pennsylvania while simultaneously preserving a critical freight rail corridor," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll in a press release. 

"Ensuring more Pennsylvanians have access to safe and reliable transportation to western Pennsylvania will reduce commute times, help connect hundreds of thousands of residents, and boost local economies. This expansion of service on the Pennsylvanian will provide key mobility and economic benefits," Carroll added.

Currently, the Pennsylvanian Amtrak service travels round-trip between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg once daily. The new agreement supports increasing those Pennsylvanian passenger services to twice a day. 

To achieve this increase, the commonwealth will invest more than $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvements that will be constructed and maintained by NS. PennDOT has applied for grant funds through the Federal Railroad Administration to help pay for these improvements.